RARA-AVIS: Hardboiled Talkies
RAOUL DAVIS (raoul1@home.com)
Sat, 01 May 1999 03:12:49 +0000
Hardboiled fans might be interested in an article called
"Big Talk" in the latest issue of Scenario magazine.I got it
on the
newstand but they do have a web version. Article is about
the writing of pre-code Hollywood gangster and crime
films mostly in the 1930s. Interesting info about the
backgrounds of
these writers and how much of what they wrote, Public
Enemy.
Scarface,The Big House etc. was translated from their own
experience as
crime reporters, bootleggers, or even armed
robbers.Lots of great tough guy dialogue is quoted. Some of
these
writers were pretty hardboiled in person. It says they used to
carry
guns with them to the movie studio and when they started
hitting the
bootleg gin (Alan Ravkin, John Huston and P.J. Wolfson are
mentioned)
might fire some rounds at each other.Gangsta rappers had
nothing on
old-time screenwriters!
RD
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